Organizational Communication, Learning, and Design

Bachelor of Science

Gordon Rowland, Professor and Chair

Organizational communication, learning, and design (OCL&D) is a unique, interdisciplinary program providing a comprehensive education in the theory and practice of both human and media-based communication within organizations. As the name denotes, the curriculum focuses on how people in organizations communicate and learn, and how organizational leaders design the strategies, systems, and tools to help them do so. Students prepare to assume professional roles in employee communication, public information, education and training, meeting and special events planning, technical writing, interactive media and design, and promotional communication.

The breadth and depth of the curriculum provide majors with the background to become communication generalists within small organizations -- for example, designing desktop-published newsletters, writing annual reports, developing training media, preparing speeches and press releases, and recruiting new employees -- or to become specialists within a more focused context such as corporate video production, interactive multimedia design, conflict resolution, instructional technology, or diversity training. To prepare students for such roles, skills and concepts are presented and applied within the curriculum in a variety of contexts such as business and industry, media production houses, consulting firms, health care providers, educational institutions, social service organizations, and government agencies.

Core

All majors take a common core of courses in which they develop basic communication knowledge and skills. The core introduces three concentrations within the major: corporate communication, learning and performance, and integrated studies. Concentrations help students focus their studies on particular interests and intended careers. Students should select one of the three concentrations by the conclusion of their sophomore year.

Corporate Communication Concentration

The corporate communication concentration focuses on human communication in organizations, providing the theoretical and practical context for examining how informal and formal communication occurs in organizations, including leadership styles, the impacts of technology and diversity, and the creation and change of corporate culture. Students gain a set of skills and concepts that can be applied in areas such as conflict management, workforce diversity initiatives, meeting planning and facilitation, employee communication, and speech writing.

Learning and Performance Concentration

The learning and performance concentration addresses the application of theories in communication, systems, educational psychology, and management to such areas as designing and managing corporate training and development programs, developing computer-assisted learning software, creating job aids and incentive programs, designing and producing technical manuals, designing courses and educational materials, and analyzing and solving workplace performance problems. Students gain a set of skills that can be applied in areas such as instructional design, training, performance technology, technical communication, and management and evaluation of learning and performance systems.

Integrated Studies Concentration

This concentration is for students who wish to combine corporate communication and learning and performance into a coherent, integrated course of study.

Issues and Tools

All majors must select one "issues" course and one "tools" course. Issues courses explore trends, theories, and concepts that apply across the various areas of OCL&D. Tools courses examine the means to create, apply, or inquire, and address such topics as designing, producing, or evaluating media and strategies; utilizing workplace technologies; and conducting specific types of research.

Capstone

At the conclusion of the curriculum, students take a set of courses that synthesize the concentrations and address ethical, managerial, and research concepts and issues. These capstone courses serve as a transition between the curriculum and professional practice.

Department Academic Policies

In addition to the general College guidelines for academic standing and the Park School academic policies, organizational communication, learning, and design majors are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 in all communications school courses, as well as an overall cumulative GPA of 2.50. Courses at level 1 are open to seniors only by permission of instructor. One-credit minicourses do not count as required OCL&D electives. All majors must complete a minimum of 60 credits outside communications, and a minimum of 60 credits in courses designated as liberal arts (LA).

Additional requirements for the learning and performance concentration

225-21000

Instructional Design

3

225-xxxxx

One additional OCL&D elective course, which may be 3 credits of 225-49000 Internship and/or 225-49800 London Communications Internship

3

Choose two of the following 3-credit courses

377-21300

Technical Writing*

225-34500

Performance Technology*

225-38000

E-Learning

330-33400

Industrial Psychology*

225-41200

Workshop in OCL&D or

225-49900

Independent Study*

6

Total, learning and performance concentration

12

Additional requirements for the integrated studies concentration

225-21000

Instructional Design

3

225-21100

Corporate Communication: Strategy and Design

3

Choose one of the following 3-credit courses

225-24000

Organizational Writing and Publishing

225-31000

Organizational Speech Writing and Interviewing*

221-23200

Public Relations*

225-41200

Workshop in OCL&D or

225-49900

Independent Study* or

225-49000

Internship or

225-49800

London Communications Internship

3

Choose one of the following 3-credit courses

377-21300

Technical Writing*

225-34500

Performance Technology*

225-38000

E-Learning

330-33400

Industrial Psychology*

225-41200

Workshop in OCL&D or

225-49900

Independent Study* or

225-49000

Internship or

225-49800

London Communications Internship

3

Total, integrated studies concentration

12

(A maximum of 3 credits of 225-49000 or 225-49800 may be counted toward this concentration.)

Summary

Departmental requirements

24

Supplemental requirements

9

Elective requirements

6

Concentration

12

Other electives

69

Total, B.S. in organizational communication, learning, and design

120

Minor in Organizational Communication, Learning, and Design

Gordon Rowland, Professor and Coordinator

Not open to organizational communication, learning, and design or applied psychology majors.

A minor in organizational communication, learning, and design is a systematic introduction to human and mediated communication in organizations. Students develop knowledge of basic principles and practices of corporate communication, learning and performance, and media design and production, and apply this knowledge to specific organizational settings. Information concerning application deadlines and admission criteria is available in the department office. Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 in order to apply to the minor.